INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 132, No. 90
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
News
Arts
Sports
Weather
Spider Woman
Long Live the King
Splash Down
Rain HIGH: 49º LOW: 44º
Senior lecturer Dr. Linda Rayor, entomology, discusses her work with spiders. | Page 3
Henry V, produced by the Ithaca Shakespeare Company, was dazzlingly produced, writes Griffin Smith-Nichols ’19. | Page 10
The women’s swimming team broke five school records as the team took seventh at Ivies. | Page 16
Two Fraternities Suspended After Hazing Allegations Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Gamma Delta prohibited from new-member activities By JOSEPHINE CHU Sun Staff Writer
Cornell’s Phi Gamma Delta and Pi Kappa Phi fraternities have been placed on interim suspension following hazing allegations, the Office of Fraternities, Sororities and Independent Living announced in a statement Tuesday. Pi Kappa Phi’s reported hazing included “intimidation, verbal abuse, harassment, alcohol consumption and calisthenics,” and Phi Gamma Delta’s incident allegedly involved the “consumption of alcohol,” according to the two statements. Alcohol is prohibited from all recruitment and new member activities whether formal or informal, according to the University’s Recognition Policy. Aside from operation of their residences, the fraternities have been suspended from all chapter activities, effective Tuesday, the statement said. The presidents of the two fraternities did not respond to requests for comment. Josephine Chu can be reached at jchu@cornellsun.com.
PHOTOS BY MICHAELA BREW / SUN SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
White house down | Following hazing reports, two fraternities, Pi Kappa Phi (left) and Phi Gamma Delta (right) have been suspended, according to the University.
Greek Organizations First Gen Students Attend 1vyG Conference Discuss Sexual Assault By STEPHANIE YAN
Nicholas Karavolias ’18, a member of First in Class. Nayara Luna '19, also a member of First in Over 20 Cornellians attended the second annu- Class, said the conference inspired many of the al 1vyG Conference at Harvard this past weekend Cornell attendees to improve the experience of first where they planned initiatives to generation students.. help students who are the first in “I've never been in such a “I’ve never been in passionate their family to attend college. and energetic setting, Attendees gathered to share where hands were flying up and their stories, networked and such a passionate and people were finishing each “recognized that being first in energetic setting.” other's sentences,” Luna said. your family to go to college is an “Being at this conference for the evidence of perseverance, weekend ... set off a yearning for Nayara Luna ’19 resilience and strength,” accordchange.” ing to Janilya Baizack ’17, a Some of the proposed member of First in Class — a Cornell organization changes include creating a directory of first generthat provides support for first-generation college ation professors on campus and starting a first genstudents and supports the IvyG Conference. eration pre-orientation program, according to First generation students make up 14 percent of See 1VYG page 4 Cornell’s undergraduate community, according to Sun Staff Writer
Strive to improve campus culture
By RUBY YU Sun Staff Writer
The Greek Tri-Council brought together members of the Cornell community — both Greek and non-Greek — to discuss sexual assault prevention Monday. The event was organized into several small discussions that concluded with a larger open forum, facilitated by members of the Interfraternity, Panhellenic and Multicultural Greek Letter Councils. Adam Kahn ’17, IFC Vice President of Finance, stressed that the Greek community wanted to hear student viewpoints on the issue of sexual assault. “The purpose of a summit is to
create a space for the student body to share how they feel about the campus climate surrounding sexual violence,” Kahn said. “We hope to leave here with a better understanding of how to improve our culture, both Greek and nonGreek, here on campus.” Kahn added that the discussions had not been held to talk about specific events, but rather to make broader changes to the campus as a whole. Natasha Wissman ’17, President of Panhellenic council, said she believed it was important to hear different opinions on this issue. “Everybody has got their own See SUMMIT page 4
VARUN HEGDE / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Speak about it | Greek and non-Greek students came together to discuss campus climate on sexual assault.
U.A.Resolution UrgesWeill Qatar Investigation By JOSEPHINE CHU Sun Staff Writer
The University Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday requesting specific information on labor practices at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar in response to allegations of labor abuses. The resolution requests that details of any and all previous labor investigations or audits conducted at Qatar be sent to Cornell. It passed with a final vote of 10-0-1. Recent protests have revealed a substantial interest in labor practices and conditions in Qatar among students, staff and faculty, according to the resolu-
tion. The motivation for the resolution was a report issued by the International Trade Union Confederation that raised concerns of labor exploitation in Education City in Qatar, possibly even in Cornell facilities, according to Alexander Thomson ’13, executive vice chair of the U.A. Qatari labor practices enforce the kafala system — a migrantlabor monitoring process which requires all unskilled laborers to have an in-country sponsor but also allows employers to commit massive labor exploitation with minimal legal repercussions, according to the resolution. The resolution states that
Migrant workers — 94 percent of the Qatari labor force — suffer under a system in which employer consent is required to change jobs, leave the country, get a driver’s license, rent a house or open a checking account. The administration has reassured the student body that Cornell treats all of its employees fairly, but Thomson said we can’t objectively evaluate those claims without more information. “We have a moral obligation to ensure that our Cornell community members are treated with dignity and respect, no matter where they are in the world,” Thomson said. “When See QATAR page 5